Adjustment for reclining-chairs.



C. TURNER.

ADJUSTMENT FOR RECLINING CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. 19w.

1,251,709. I Patented Jan. 1, 191 8.

CHARLES P. TURNER, or cHIoAGo LLIN oIs.

nmos'rivrnn'r For. nncLrn me-cnnins.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed April 20, 1917. Serial No. 163,338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustments for Reclining- Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjusting means for reclining chairs of that character comprising a back 'pivotally connected to the chair frame and designedto be adjusted backwardly or forwardly to any desired inclination the comfort of the user demands. i

In the manufacture of chairs of this character, of which the so-called Morris chair is a well known example, there are employed several kinds of adjusting'means, varied in construction and degree of complication in parts and operatiomfor the purpose of adjusting the chair back, although a type of adjusting devices commonly used includes metal parts such as rods and brackets, which project beyond the body of the chair. These types are unsightly in appearance, inconvenient of manipulation, and objectionable because of the liability of injury to other articles of furniture by contact with the projecting parts of the device in moving the chair about, or the catching and tearing of a persons clothing in moving about the chair. j

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple and dependable adjusting means for reclining chairs, which will largely eliminate the difficulties hereinbe-fore mentioned, and at the same time enhance the appearance of the chair by reason of its inconspicuous construction and location.

The features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a reclining chair embodying the novel adjusting device;

-Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in section taken through the adjustment device and adjacent parts of the chair; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View taken'on line:33 of Fig.2;

- Fig. 4 is aview in elevation of the contact or inner face of the adjustment device; and

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation ofthe part of i the chair back to Whichthe device is attached, showing the means for so doing.

A chair of the reclining type and one particularly suited to. the purposes of the adjusting device, comprises a body or frame 10, including vertical legs 11, horizontal side, front, and rear frame members 12 extending between the legs, and side arms 13. The side and front frame members support asuitable seat or cushion 14', therebeing provided cross bars 15 (Fig. 2) extending between the side frame members 12 and a suitable reinforce ment 16, of leather or "the like, extending over and connected to the cross bars 15. The

seat 14: terminates short of the rea'rlegs 11,

the chair body. Secured or attached to the 1 front surface of the back frame is the usual back cushion 20.

I The chair back thus mounted is manifestly capable of being tilted from substantially vertical position rearwardly to an angle of considerable inclination, its rearward movement being limited by its contact with the rear horizontal frame member 12 of the chair body. In order to support the chair back in any intermediate position of 'inclinai tion, the adjusting device embodying the features of the invention is employed, the same comprising parts as follows: Attached to the rear side of-the chair back and preferably to each of the rails 18, 18 of the chair back and adjacent to the lower end thereof, is a triangular or wedge shaped block, capae ble of limited endwise movement along the rails, by'the provision of suitable connecting member, said blocks forming a wedge insertible between the back17 and saidframe member 12, the inclinationof the backzbeing manifestly determined by the position of the blocks relative to :therails 18, 18. a

As a preferable means for attaching the blocks to the rails 18,-18,the following means is employed. Secured to the inner or contact face of'each block is a metal plate 22 extending substantially throughout the length thereof and preferably countersunk in said face, there :being further provided beneath 'said plate a groove or rabbet 23. 'W'ithin the plate 22 :is a longitudinallyextending slot 2 10f comparatively narrow width, said slot having enlarged .openings 25, 25, formed in spaced relation and adjacent its lower end and at the central portion thereof. Mounted in the rails 18., 18 are" provided screws 26, 26, arranged longitudinally thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to that between the enlarged openings 25, 25 in the plate 22 of the block. By thismeans ablockmay :be removab-ly attached to the chair back by inserting the screw-heads into the openings in the plate 22 and moving the block endwise so that the heads pass out of registering relation with said openings. The block is free to be moved endwise along the rail throughout the distance permitted by the length of the slot 24 and the screws 26, the heads of the latter being housed within the groove or rabbet 23. e

To operate a reclining chair providedwith the adjustment deviceherein described, it is only necessary to adjust the blocks 18, 18 upwardly or downwardly to a position such that the distance between the chair backand the rear frame member 12 is such as to produce the desired inclination. Thi adjustment can be accomplished by .a person while seated in the chair, particularly when it is desired to adjust the back from a reclining tea more erect position, by swinging the back forwardly and allowing the blockS to slide or drop downwardly by gravity, thus becoming further wedged between the back and the rear frame member 12 and supporting said back in a more upright position. To lower the back it is only necessary to ra s th bl cks to the ired Pos t on an 1 v th back o e for e nto wi -act this; liolel asithe elect chair and adjusting the blocks .in. the usual manner.

An adjusting device of this character embraces not only all the features of strength and rangeof-adjustments of the ordinary deyioes in general use, but other advantageous features, as follows. The use of wood and the application of the Wedge principle make'it possible to obtain a simple and inexpensive device forithe purpose, there being required but a single member, operating in conjunction withyapermanent member of the-chair frame. The fact that the device is of the same material as. the chair, and is mounted upon-the back, in sucha manner that all connecting parts are covered and furthermore located-inwardly from the sides ofthe chair, eliminates laterally projecting parts, as well as making the device quiteiiiconspicuous, thus enhancing the general ap- ;pearance of the chair. Ajfurther "feature of the device is the type connecting members iemployeclgwhich makes it possible to T attach the device to chairs 110i originally provided the ewith, the si p icity of the method-o attaching making it comparatively easy "iQl the unskilled pers'onto applyitheidevice.

C a-im as my nvention 1- Ah recli ing ha r av g a ack pivjotally connected with the chair body, a

wedge shaped bloc-k located. between said ba k and a p rt of a chai bo y, and means connecting said block withone ,of the parts between which it extends so that block will be permitted to move by gravity relatively to saidbaokfor adjusting-themcli t therea A recli ng chair hav ng ekrivo ly c nnecte with th ch ir, body, a

wedge shaped block located between said back andpa t of said bo y, nd means connectlng said block with'said back so. ha sa d; lock il e Permi ted to m re by gravity relatively to said back for adjnsting the nc i a h re f- 3. reclining chair having aback pivetay ens ed h the chair o y. a wedge shaped block located between said back and part of said chair body,.;and

means connecting said blockwith said back, prising fixe mbers on aid ask e tending into a .slotin said block so that said block will be permitted to move by gravity relatively to said back for adjusting the, in-

clination thereof. 7

4;. A wedge iiharecl blankv or h purpose set forth, having a flat inner face adapted to bear aga nst h ba k 5 a. t ir a d. f di i l uter-tee adapt t bear aga nst a Part5 Of the bdsri inner face of said block, said plate being provided with an elongated slot having at least one enlarged portion in the length thereof, and said block being provided in that portion of its inner face covered by said plate With an elongated groove registering with said slot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this 11th day of 10 April, A. D. 1917.

CHARLES P. TURNER.

Witnesses:

EUGENE C. WANN, CHARLES H. POOLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

